Favorite Schools

Favorite Teams

When it comes to getting around the bases, Cleveland Indians outfielder Michael Brantley, left, would be wise to listen to advice from guest instructor Kenny Lofton, right, one of the most disruptive base-runners in team history.
(Photo by Chuck Crow, The Plain Dealer)

Cleveland Indians Super Fan, First Through Gate.Cleveland Indians fan Peggy Mitchell of North Rodgeville, Ohio, is, again, the first fan through the gates at Goodyear Ballpark for the opening game of the season. Mitchell was the very first fan through the gates at the Inaugural game at Goodyear Ballpark in 2009 and has been the first fan every year, 5 years running. She loves her Indians!

Indians chatter

Here's a look at the highlights and lowlights from the Indians' Cactus League opener Friday.

Score: Indians 11, Reds 10, at Goodyear Ballpark.

Walkoff magic: Mike McDade hit a three-run double with one out in the ninth to give the Tribe the come-from-behind victory.

Start me up: Starter Giovanni Soto struggled, allowing five runs on three hits in two-thirds of an inning.

In the pen: Lefty Rich Hill, trying to win a spot in the pen, pitched a scoreless sixth. Frank Herrmann pitched the ninth for the win.

Hello, Cleveland: Nick Swisher, in his first at bat as an Indian, hit an RBI single to right with two out in the first. Asdrubal Cabrera set it up with a steal of second.

Hit men: Lonnie Chisenhall hit a two-run homer in the third. Ryan Raburn, trying to win a bench job, hit a two-run homer in the seventh. Carlos Santana hit RBI singles in his first two at-bats.

Oops: Santana's passed ball in the first allowed a run to score. Then, he was picked off at first to end the Indians' half of the same inning.

-- Paul Hoynes

Goodyear, Ariz. -- The Indians have speed this year, but how are they going to disperse it throughout the lineup?

Manager Terry Francona said he wasn't sure how he was going to use that speed when it came to making out the lineup, but Friday wasn't a bad start.

"It's not a problem," said Francona. "It's a good thing."

Francona manages speed by the percentage.

"That's more important than just stealing 60 bases," he said. "It's how many times you're safe. It's not just base stealing, it's base running. We want to push, we want to make teams stop us on the bases. It's something we've talked about consistently this spring."

Most managers like to see their base-stealers successful 80 percent of the time. Last year, Brantley was 12-for-21 (57 percent), Kipnis 31-for-38 (82 percent), Stubbs 30-for-37 (81 percent) and Bourn 42-for-55 (76 percent).

Francona said Mike Scioscia's Angels teams of the past are a great example of how to turn speed into runs.

"When you'd go into a series against them, you'd already have a headache," said Francona. "You knew when they hit it, the ball better end up where it was supposed to. Not only were they fast, but they were aggressive and intelligent.

"If the outfielders got air under the ball [on their throws], they really could run you into a lot of mistakes."

"We went over the first-to-third balk move," said Francona. "They've eliminated it. We spent about 45 minutes talking and it's a good idea. You're allowed to ask questions and get clarifications on some things.

"Anytime Joe Torre walks into a room, that's a good idea."

Francona and Torre are close from their managerial days with the Red Sox and Yankees, respectively.

What gives?Mike McDade hit a game-winning, walkoff three-run double in the ninth inning Friday to give the Indians an 11-10 victory over the Reds. But there was no mob scene on the field. In fact, for a while the Reds didn't even leave the field.

"It was like no one knew how to react," said Francona.

It turns out the Reds had appealed that Tim Fedroff, representing the winning run, had missed third base on the way home.

Now pitching:Brett Myers will make his Indians debut today when he starts against the Reds at Goodyear Ballpark. The game is on WTAM AM/1100 at 3:05 p.m.

Myers will face right-hander Alfred Simon. The Indians signed Myers to a one-year, $7 million contract on Jan. 4.

More arms: The Indians have split-squad games Sunday against the Reds and Brewers. Zach McAllister will start against the Reds at Goodyear Ballpark followed by Daisuke Matsuzaka, Cody Allen, Jerry Gil, T.J. House and Preston Guilmet. The game will be carried on WMMS FM/100.7, WTAM and indians.com.

Carlos Carrasco will start against the Brewers at Maryvale, Ariz. Scott Kazmir, Trevor Bauer, David Huff, Danny Salazar and Nick Hagadone are scheduled to follow him. The game will not be carried on TV, radio or indians.com.

Finally: Francona would like to have a couple of more days of practice to go over fundamentals, but the Cactus League season started Friday. He did have a message for the Indians, who opened camp on Feb. 10. "I told them I was proud of them," he said. "I wouldn't have told them that if I didn't mean it. They've done everything we've asked and done it with a smile."

Follow Us

cleveland.com is powered by Plain Dealer Publishing Co. and Northeast Ohio Media Group. All rights reserved (About Us).The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Northeast Ohio Media Group LLC.